diff --git a/app/helpers/compare_helper.rb b/app/helpers/compare_helper.rb
index aa54ee07bdc..2aa0449c46e 100644
--- a/app/helpers/compare_helper.rb
+++ b/app/helpers/compare_helper.rb
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module CompareHelper
     from.present? &&
       to.present? &&
       from != to &&
-      project.feature_available?(:merge_requests, current_user) &&
+      can?(current_user, :create_merge_request, project) &&
       project.repository.branch_names.include?(from) &&
       project.repository.branch_names.include?(to)
   end
diff --git a/changelogs/unreleased/tc-only-mr-button-if-allowed.yml b/changelogs/unreleased/tc-only-mr-button-if-allowed.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a7f5dcb560c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/unreleased/tc-only-mr-button-if-allowed.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+---
+title: Only show Merge Request button when user can create a MR
+merge_request: 8639
+author:
diff --git a/spec/features/projects/merge_request_button_spec.rb b/spec/features/projects/merge_request_button_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b6728960fb8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/features/projects/merge_request_button_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+require 'spec_helper'
+
+feature 'Merge Request button', feature: true do
+  shared_examples 'Merge Request button only shown when allowed' do
+    let(:user) { create(:user) }
+    let(:project) { create(:project, :public) }
+    let(:forked_project) { create(:project, :public, forked_from_project: project) }
+
+    context 'not logged in' do
+      it 'does not show Create Merge Request button' do
+        visit url
+
+        within("#content-body") do
+          expect(page).not_to have_link(label)
+        end
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'logged in as developer' do
+      before do
+        login_as(user)
+        project.team << [user, :developer]
+      end
+
+      it 'shows Create Merge Request button' do
+        href = new_namespace_project_merge_request_path(project.namespace,
+                                                        project,
+                                                        merge_request: { source_branch: 'feature',
+                                                                         target_branch: 'master' })
+
+        visit url
+
+        within("#content-body") do
+          expect(page).to have_link(label, href: href)
+        end
+      end
+
+      context 'merge requests are disabled' do
+        before do
+          project.project_feature.update!(merge_requests_access_level: ProjectFeature::DISABLED)
+        end
+
+        it 'does not show Create Merge Request button' do
+          visit url
+
+          within("#content-body") do
+            expect(page).not_to have_link(label)
+          end
+        end
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'logged in as non-member' do
+      before do
+        login_as(user)
+      end
+
+      it 'does not show Create Merge Request button' do
+        visit url
+
+        within("#content-body") do
+          expect(page).not_to have_link(label)
+        end
+      end
+
+      context 'on own fork of project' do
+        let(:user) { forked_project.owner }
+
+        it 'shows Create Merge Request button' do
+          href = new_namespace_project_merge_request_path(forked_project.namespace,
+                                                          forked_project,
+                                                          merge_request: { source_branch: 'feature',
+                                                                           target_branch: 'master' })
+
+          visit fork_url
+
+          within("#content-body") do
+            expect(page).to have_link(label, href: href)
+          end
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  context 'on branches page' do
+    it_behaves_like 'Merge Request button only shown when allowed' do
+      let(:label) { 'Merge Request' }
+      let(:url) { namespace_project_branches_path(project.namespace, project) }
+      let(:fork_url) { namespace_project_branches_path(forked_project.namespace, forked_project) }
+    end
+  end
+
+  context 'on compare page' do
+    it_behaves_like 'Merge Request button only shown when allowed' do
+      let(:label) { 'Create Merge Request' }
+      let(:url) { namespace_project_compare_path(project.namespace, project, from: 'master', to: 'feature') }
+      let(:fork_url) { namespace_project_compare_path(forked_project.namespace, forked_project, from: 'master', to: 'feature') }
+    end
+  end
+
+  context 'on commits page' do
+    it_behaves_like 'Merge Request button only shown when allowed' do
+      let(:label) { 'Create Merge Request' }
+      let(:url) { namespace_project_commits_path(project.namespace, project, 'feature') }
+      let(:fork_url) { namespace_project_commits_path(forked_project.namespace, forked_project, 'feature') }
+    end
+  end
+end